Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: (NKJV) Instruction About Ambition

Instruction About Ambition

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask.

Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.

26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Text Focus: Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

introduction

I find it interesting that the subtitle given in the New King James Version is “ Teaching on Ambition “

A good portion of Richard J. Fosters thoughts on service had to do with the killing ego.

this kind of dove tails with what Richard J. Foster.

To be sure we have to wrestle with ego.

i think that people also don’t realize the value of what God has given them.

remember two weeks ago i told you that i had ten pages of notes, tonight I want to boil these ten pages of notes into three points:

in order for service to have its desired effect on the believer in Jesus its going to on some level cause your flesh to revolt.

Second many don't serve because they think have anything someone else needs.

Many people don't realize that the impact of their sacrifice of service is someone else’s miracle

as stated in our focus verse today Jesus came to serve and not to be served and commanded his disciples to serve as well.

remind the congregation that a believer in Jesus should consider themselves a disciple.

(NKJV) 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

(NKJV) Seek the Kingdom of God 22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.

Of how much more value are you than the birds?

25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

I am not saying that we are not to work, or pay bills, or do what it takes to sustain life.

i am saying that we don't need to see serving others as loosing the ability to take care of ones own responsibilities.

(NKJV) 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Seek the Kingdom of God

We don’t realize that we have gifts and talents that can be used to help others.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

now when i’m talking about serving i’m not talking about a “co-opp”.

serving people that you love because they are your friends.

i’m talking about using gifts and talents as a means to the love of God.

i’m not talking about extending a poverty mentality which is a victimization

we are all gifted.

(NKJV) 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

Christ Teaches on the Widow’s Mites

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

Mark 12:41–44

we all have gifts, they were deposited by God so that he can withdraw them.

21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

he desires to withdraw them so that he can use them for His Glory.

but he leaves those gifts to our own management.

(NKJV) 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

often we don't believe our act of service will have an impact.

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.

Of how much more value are you than the birds?

25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

(NKJV) Christ Teaches on the Widow’s Mites 21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Christ Teaches on the Widow’s Mites

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

there are two groups of people mentioned here:

21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

the widow.

the Rich

the point of this passage is that she trusted all she had to God.

maybe like her you don’t feel like your gift will do much,

give them anyway.